Eagles NT Beau Allen

Scouting Report:

Allen will step in an become the heaviest defensive lineman the Eagles employ. He stands at 6'2" and weighs a sold 333 lbs. with a strong lower half making his the prototypical nose tackle. Allen runs a 5.25 40-yard dash which is quick considering his size.

The Wisconsin product is at his best when playing against the run. He has a strong lower half giving him leverage when he keeps his pads low. Allen is an asset to his linebackers as he often attracts and neutralizes double teams. He also flashes quick, strong hands which allow him to shed blockers and stuff the run. It isn't all perfect as Allen sometimes gets blocked down the line when his pads come up but he can develop into a solid two-gap lineman.

Despite playing solid against the run, Allen makes less of an impact against the pass. He uses brute strength to bull rush the quarterback which is disruptive but he does not have top-end closing speed to close on the quarterback. Allen absorbs offensive lineman in the running game which is effective but when he absorbs offensive linemen in the passing game, he is sometimes rendered ineffective.

For a guy his size he is mobile to an extent but he doesn't show initial burst and lacks explosiveness in his game. He is tough but doesn't play with a mean-streak either which could be viewed as a negative but it's also a positive as he doesn't take after-the-whistle penalties. The same description was used for the Eagles first round pick OLB Marcus Smith.

One note on Allen is scouts questioned his endurance given his weight. That is something that will all but surely be addressed by Chip Kelly. Allen doesn't project as a three-down nose tackle but that does not mean Kelly won't have his guys ready to go from an endurance standpoint.

Fit With The Eagles:

Allen gives the Eagles a true nose tackle to pair with second-year nose tackles Bennie Logan (6'2", 315 lbs.) and Damion Square (6'2", 293 lbs.). While Logan has bulked up in the offseason, neither of them are overly large compared to what Allen brings to the table. Logan and Square showed the ability to get into the backfield last season as Logan registered two sacks so Allen presents a nice complement to those two.

Kelly loves to talk about how "big people beat up little people" especially on the defensive side of the ball. Allen fits that philosophy perfectly.